I was born on October 10, 1790 in Tipperary, Ireland. At age twelve my mother and father sent me to St. Canice's Academy in Kilkenny, Ireland. I spent seven years there with two Capuchin Fathers. In September1807 I attended Maynooth College, the following year I joined the Capuchin Order in Dublin. Once I had completed my studdies I was ordained a priest by Archbishop Murray of Dublin on Easter Sunday, 1814. After spending twelve more months in Kilkenny at the convent I was transferred to Cork where I remained for the next twenty four years organizing schools, industrial classes, and benefit societies. In 1830 I bought eleven acres of land which I called the Botanic Garden; it was to be a cemetery for the poor.
This brings me to my most important achievement. In 1838, drunkenness had become widespread. It encouraged rivalries and generational feuds. I didn’t believe in gradual approaches or temporary commitments, I advocated a promise that meant complete commitment. With this in mind I established the total Abstinence Society which relied on one enduring act of will to keep a person sober for life. It was simply called The Pledge. It could be made by anybody, either with or without an alcohol problem. On 10 April, 1838 the first meeting took place in my schoolhouse. I took the pledge myself saying "Here goes in the Name of God", I then entered my signature into a large book.
About sixty people followed my example that night and signed the book. We held meetings twice a week and after only three months our numbers had grown to 25,000. The number continued to grow, in five months we had reached 130,000. I traveled from place to place to pledge as many people as possible. My journey eventually led me to England where I successfully gave the pledge to 600,000 people within three months. The potato famine struck a great blow to my campaign but I tried to help out in any way I could including donating 600 pounds a month in relief. I then traveled to America for two years securing 500,00 desciples before returning to Ireland. It is said that I gave the pledge to 7,000,000 people.
Refrences Capuchin Fathers-These two men influenced me greatily during my time at St. Canice's Academy.
Father Theobald Matthew
I was born on October 10, 1790 in Tipperary, Ireland. At age twelve my mother and father sent me to St. Canice's Academy in Kilkenny, Ireland. I spent seven years there with two Capuchin Fathers. In September1807 I attended Maynooth College, the following year I joined the Capuchin Order in Dublin. Once I had completed my studdies I was ordained a priest by Archbishop Murray of Dublin on Easter Sunday, 1814. After spending twelve more months in Kilkenny at the convent I was transferred to Cork where I remained for the next twenty four years organizing schools, industrial classes, and benefit societies. In 1830 I bought eleven acres of land which I called the Botanic Garden; it was to be a cemetery for the poor.
This brings me to my most important achievement. In 1838, drunkenness had become widespread. It encouraged rivalries and generational feuds. I didn’t believe in gradual approaches or temporary commitments, I advocated a promise that meant complete commitment. With this in mind I established the total Abstinence Society which relied on one enduring act of will to keep a person sober for life. It was simply called The Pledge. It could be made by anybody, either with or without an alcohol problem. On 10 April, 1838 the first meeting took place in my schoolhouse. I took the pledge myself saying "Here goes in the Name of God", I then entered my signature into a large book.
About sixty people followed my example that night and signed the book. We held meetings twice a week and after only three months our numbers had grown to 25,000. The number continued to grow, in five months we had reached 130,000. I traveled from place to place to pledge as many people as possible. My journey eventually led me to England where I successfully gave the pledge to 600,000 people within three months. The potato famine struck a great blow to my campaign but I tried to help out in any way I could including donating 600 pounds a month in relief. I then traveled to America for two years securing 500,00 desciples before returning to Ireland. It is said that I gave the pledge to 7,000,000 people.
Refrences
Capuchin Fathers-These two men influenced me greatily during my time at St. Canice's Academy.
Sources
"Fr. Theobald Mathew." Feis Maitiu Corcaigh - Feis Mathew Cork - Feis Maitiu - Feis Matthew. Web. 25 Feb. 2010. <http://www.feismaitiu.ie/fr-theobald-mathew.html>.
"Theobald Mathew." Hall of North and South Americans. Web. 25 Feb. 2010. <http://famousamericans.net/theobaldmathew/>.
"Untitled Document." Assumption College: A Catholic College founded by the Augustinians of the Assumption. Web. 25 Feb. 2010. <http://www1.assumption.edu/ahc/Theresa's%20Main%20Folder/Web%20page%20folder/Biographies/Father%20Mathew%20Bio.html>.